Mustangs Newsletter March 1-15
March 1-15
Upcoming Dates
- March 6 - Choir Concerts - 7th Grade 6:00pm & 8th Grade - 7:30pm
- March 7 - Last Day of Tri II
- March 8 - NO SCHOOL - Mark Reporting
- March 11- Tri III Begins
- March 11-15 - Hygiene Donation Drive
- March 19 - Pack Hygiene Kits - 3-5pm
- March 20 - 7th Grade Choir Field Trip
- March 21 - 8th Grade AVID Field Trip
- March 22 - Last Day Before Spring Break
- March 25-29 - Spring Break
- April 1 - School Resumes
Cans & Cardboard Needed
Our 7th grade 3-D art classes are beginning their recycled materials animal project! Therefore, we are requesting your recycled materials, especially cardboard tubes like from paper towels, and anything else you might be looking to get rid of that students can get creative with. Washed tin cans are a good option, too! Donations can be brought to the main office.
Hygiene Service Project
PACT
Similar to elementary school PTOs, PACT (Parents and Community Together) works to build a strong, inclusive community at MGMS. Every MGMS parent, caregiver and staff is a member.
Primary ways to get involved and make an impact include donations, volunteering and advocacy.
Donations
The Fuel Up Team is hosting a Hygiene Kit Donation Drive & Packing Event to pack and donate 1,000 hygiene kits to CROSS:
Donation drive: March 11-15 (students bring items to Advisory)
Packing event: March 19 from 3-5 PM in MGMS cafeteria - all students welcome!
Volunteer Opportunities and Event Information
Join the PACT Board for the 2024-2025 school year and make a difference at MGMS!
President - OPEN
Communications Coordinator - OPEN
Treasurer - OPEN
Secretary - Filled
Contact mgmsPACTtreasurer@gmail.com for more information.
Thanks again to the Student Council for helping define and host the Fun Days! Fun Days took place February 6-8 with all students participating in one of the activities. The favorite locations were the pool, auditorium for a movie, the art rooms, and the rooms with games (board and Chromebook). They learned a lot from the events, and students have made some great suggestions on how they can improve the days for next time.
The Fuel Up Team is looking for a couple adult volunteers to help with the Hygiene Kit Donation Drive and Packing Event. There is a staff member and lead parent helping coordinate this event with the Fuel Up team, but they are looking for one additional adult to help supervise/assist the Fuel Up students with the following:
March 15th 8:00-9:30 AM – Counting and organizing donations
March 19th 1:00-3:00 PM – Setting up packing event
March 19th 3:30-5:00 PM – Cleaning up and carrying kits to CROSS truck
Contact Patrick Smith at SmithPatrick@District279.org if you can help.
And check out more event and volunteer information here:
Check out other event and volunteer information here:
Advocacy
The 2024 Minnesota legislative session started in early February. Every year, the ISD 279 School Board defines a legislative platform to convey the district’s priorities to our elected representatives. Learn more about the 2023-2024 legislative priorities, and contact your legislators to ask them to support the priorities you’re passionate about.
PACT Meetings
Join us to hear updates from Principal Smith and learn about positive MGMS initiatives.
Monday April 15
7:00-8:00 PM
Online only
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/bgp-ndvo-fcq
Mark your calendar for all remaining meetings:
April 15 (online)
May 20 (in person and online)
PACT website: https://mgms.district279.org/families/pact
Facebook: Maple Grove Middle School - ISD 279
Attention Incoming 7th Grade Students
The AVID application for next year's 7th grade cohort is now open! AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is a college-prep elective course that supports students in preparing for Honors/AP courses in high school. It is a fun, and rigorous exploratory class. CLICK HERE to visit the MGMS AVID website and scroll down to apply! Applications are due Friday, March 15. Please see the attachment below for more information.
Order Your Student a 2023/24 Yearbook Today
Items Needed for the Closet
MGMS has what is called “The CLOSET” which offers school supplies, hygiene items, snacks, and clothing to our students in need. It is accessed by students through the counselors and social workers often by referrals from teachers and staff. We would appreciate any donations. The items listed below are what is most needed.
- Trapper keepers
- 3" - 3 ring binders
- Women’s deodorant
- Q-tips( travel packs)
- Chapstick
- Sweat/athletic pants in L & XL
- Facial wash & moisturizer
Items can be dropped off in the main office. Thank you for your support.
Summer Programs for Kids Preschool-8th Grade
SUMMER MINI CAMPS ARE OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT!
Swing Into Summer with Community Education
If you are looking for dynamic summer options for your preschool through 8th grade student, check out our 2024 summer camps guide. This publication includes all options for children ages three and older as well as our summer Driver's Education schedule for high school students.
Click below to explore an electronic version of our catalog. A paper copy of our camp guide will be mailed to homes the week of March 4, 2024. Most of our mini camps will be held at Elm Creek Elementary School: 9830 Revere Ln. N., Maple Grove, MN 55369.
If you have additional questions, please contact Jesse Toren at (763) 391-7242 or communityeducationye@district279.org.
Hello from People Incorporated,
We are happy to announce that starting the 2023-24 school year, District 279 and People Incorporated has placed a licensed mental health therapist at our school, full-time. Michelle Rosenau, MA, LPCC will be on-site Monday-Friday, year round, to provide mental health therapy services to Maple Grove Middle School students.
Please click on the line below for more information.
Reminders for Parents/Guardians
Absences, Appointments, Attendance - What to Do...
ABSENCES
If your child is going to be late or absent from school, please call the school with the reason for the absence. The telephone call eliminates the need to send a note with your student when he/she returns to school. Excused absences consist of illness, medical appointments, and family emergency situations such as a funeral. Oversleeping, missing the bus, or skipping school are not excused and are considered truancy.
MGMS 24 Hour Attendance Line: 763-315-7603.
APPOINTMENTS/EARLY RELEASE - HERE IS WHAT YOU DO
1. Send a note with your student in the morning
2. When the student gets to school they go to Student Services to get a white pass
3. At the stated time on the pass, your student leaves class and comes to the office with the white pass and signs out in the main office
4. The person picking up can wait in the car (very helpful on cold winter days)
If you didn't send a note, you will need to come in with your driver's license and we will call your student down when you arrive. This procedure is in place to ensure student safety.
ATTENDANCE
If you received a call saying your child was absent one or more periods, please check your ParentVue account for the period your student was absent. Have your child talk to the teacher for the class that they were marked absent. The teacher will then communicate with our attendance person.
3 Accounts Parents Need to Have
We have three accounts parents should have; ParentVue, Schoology and EduTrak. ParentVue allows you to see attendance, testing scores and report cards (we do not mail them out). Schoology allows you to see assignments and communicate with the teachers. EduTrak is how you add money to your student's lunch account, pay fees for sports, or other fines. Attached below is a document that will help you set up accounts and answer any questions you may have.
Who to Contact
School Phone: 763-315-7600...............................Website: https://mgms.district279.org/
Attendance: 763-315-7603………………………………..Transportation: 763-391-7244
6th Grade
Jennifer Hinker, Assistant Principal.....Email: HinkerJ@district279.org
Kaia Paquin, Counselor 6th Grade.......Email: PaquinK@district279.org
7th Grade
Jason Olson, Assistant Principal……..Email: Olsonj@district279.org
Katie Gerdts, Counselor 7th Grade......Email: GerdtsK@district279.org
8th Grade
Patrick Smith, Principal………………….Email: SmithPatrick@district279.org
Megan Woods, Counselor 8th Grade...Email: :WoodsM@district279.org
Student Management Specialists Assist With All Grades
Candice Ledman - (Grade 6) - Email: LedmanC@district279.org
Levy Jones (Grade 7) - Email: JonesL2@district279.org
Nathanial Davies (Grade 8) – Email: DaviesN@district279.org
District Tip Line.........763-265-3636